Spike-making machine



C. A. DONLEY ET AL.

SPIKE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1926 17 Sheets-Sheet J.

Jan. 8, 1929 1,698,582

Jan. 8, 1929.

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A. DONLE? ET AL SPIKE MAKING momma Filed sum; 14, 1926 l7 sheets-sheet 6 Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,582

c. A. DONLEY ET AL SPIKE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1926 I7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 8, 1929.

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' Q1. A. DCNLEY ET AL.

SPIKE MAKING MACHINE File d June 14, 1926 1.7 Sheets-sheet 13 1 am 8, i929.

l7 Sheets-Sheet 14 Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,582

r v C. A. DONLEY ET AL SPIKE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1926 17 fibeets-Sheet l5 Filed June 14, 1926 C. A. DONLEY ET AL.

SPIKE MAKING MACHINE Jan.

. Jan. 8, 1929.

C. A. DONLEY ET AL SPIKE MAKING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1926 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 5 WWiQ- Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

names s'raras aaraar caries."

CHARLES A. DONLEY AND WILLIAM ETEEB, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGrNORS TO LEBANON IRON COMPANY, OF LEBANON,

PENNSYLVANIA.

PENNSYLVANIA; A CORPORATION OF SPIKE-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed June 14,

The principal object of our invention is to provide an automatic spike making machine comprising various lmproved features and various advantageous arrangements of eleto provide an improved feeding mechanism for transferring the spike blanks from the cutting off and pointing mechanism to the gripping and head forming mechanism.

' Another object of the invention is to pro" vide, in combination with the transfer mechanism, an improved stop mechanism for correctly positioning a spike blank in the gripping mechanism for subsequent formation of the spike head.

Another ob ect of the invention is to provide improved means for operating the gripping dies, this mechanism including devices by which injury to the machine elements is prevented, in event of obstructlons being encountered by the dies.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for successively ejecting the finished spikes from the machine. I

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the following specification and claims and the accompanying drawings of which i Fig. 1 is a planview; I

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a left end elevation;

Fig. at is a rightend elevation;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation:

Figs. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectionalelevations taken. along the line a, a. of Fig. 1,

and viewed in the direction of, the arrows 66 and 77, respectively;

ing certain of the elements of the machine 1926. Serial No. 115,889.

in their operative positions relative to each other;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation, drawn on an enlarged scale of the combination feeding and cutting rolls;

Fig. 11 is a side elevationof the elements shown in Fig. 10;

12 is a sectional elevation of the elements shown in Figs; 10 and 11 taken along the line 12'12, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary front view showing the driving ratchet mechanism for the feeding and cutting rolls.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary left side view of the ratchet mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the'pawl mechanism illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14;

Fig. 16 is a detailed end elevation of the fixed bottom and side, the movable side die,

' and the movable top die, shown respectively in their relative positions of co-operation;

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional elevation' showing the fixed bottom, the movable top and the header dies;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged plan view of the fixed side and bottom die, illustrating the movable stock stop and the ejector, co-operatively associated therewith;

- Fig. 19 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation taken along the line 1919, Fig. 18

Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 20 20, Fig. 19; i A

Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2121, Fig. 18;

' Fig. 22is an enlarged plan view of the movable side die and its co-operating elements; i v

23is a sectionalelevation taken along the line 28-23, Fig. 22; and Fig. 24L is a sectional elevation taken along the line 247-24 of Fig. 23, showing one element as being detached from the other suhiciently to clearly illustrate the co-oper! able construction ofthe elements.

The machine in its preferred form com prises the following essential and principal mechanisms A pair of co-operating combination feeding and cutting off rolls which serve to engage 'a bar of preheated metal, from which the spikes are to be formed, and to feed a predetermined portion of. the bar into the machine for the formation of a single spike. These rolls function to feed the desired amount of the bar into the machine, to cut off such predetermined length thereof and to form a point on one end of the severed section.

A pair of transverse rolls for engaging the severed and pointed section of the bar as soon as out off, and advancing it to the position whereina head is to be formed thereon atthe end opposite the point thereof.

A. stop for limiting. the extent of move the heading operation is being effected.

A head forming. die adapted'to engage the blank end. of theheated bar. section and. to co-operate with the holding j aws to form the desired head. I

An ejector adapted to remove the com.- pleted. spike after it has.- been released from andby the: jaws- The unitarymechanisms above mentioned are compactly carried on and by a main bed 1",, which issupported upon front legs 2 and 3 andzupon rear legs 4 and 5. 'Rotatablysupported in. an elevated positionabov'ethe rear of; thebedis a main power shaft 6- which is adapted to be driven from any desired source of power, by means of a'belt passing around the fly wheel 7'. Preferably the fly wheel. is provided with a series-of holes '3 adapted to receive a bar by which the machine may be manually turned when making adjustments to the dies or other elements of the machine. Main bearings 83, 9, 10 and 11 are provided for the shaft 6 which isadapted' to supply the necessary motive power to, and. for the operation of, the operating elements. of the machine, each of which will be hereinafter described in. detail in their successive order of operation as above noted.

The combination feeding, cutting off: and pointing mechanism is shown clearly inFigs. 1,2,10,11, 12,13, 14: and 15. The main bed plate. 1. is provided, adjacentits front edge,

with. two bearing members 12, 12 projecting upward therefrom. These bearing members are provided. respectively with fixed bearings 14- lt for a transverse horizontal" shaft 16 andwith vertically adjustable bearings 17, 17 i for a second transverse horizontal shaft 19. Screws 20, 20 are provided for vertically adjusting the two bearings 17, 17. Intermeshing gears 22 and 23 are mounted respectively on the shafts 16 and 19, these gears serving to cause the uniform rotation of the two. shafts in opposite directions. The range ,offadjustn-ient oft-he upper bearings 1?, 17 is relatively slight so that the gears remain in nesh throughout the entire range.

Carried by the two shafts 16 and 19 are feed rollers 2 1 and 25, these rollers being of equal diameters and related in a manner to gripa: bar of stock between their peripheries. The bar to be operated upon, being previously heated is introduced into the machine between the rollers 24 and 25. A guide 21 is preferably provided for supporting the bar. in. advance of the rollers. The cross-sectional dimensions of the bar are the same as those of the body. of each spike to be made. The two rollers 24 and 25 are flanged at opposite sides, the roller 24: having a fiange26' at the left. hand. side and the roller 25 having a. flange 2? at the right hand side. These flanges are so spaced asto engage the sides oft-he bar and assist in feeding it. Carried by the two feed rollers 24 and 25 are to operating pairs of combined cutting ofi and pointing. teeth. 28, 28, the teeth of each pair being. so located as to come opposite each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 11. The number of'pairs of teeth 28, 28 can be varied, but for purposes of illustration I have shown four pairs of. such teeth. It will be understood. that when the feedrolls are rotated the teeth28 of each barare forced. into the heated stock,cutting. it off and pointing it at the same time. The two flanges 26 and 27, engaging the sides of the bar, preventing any lateral distortion thereof and maintaining the uniform width of. the spike at the point thereof, during the cutting ofi and'pointing operation. 7

Preferably the shafts l6 and 19 are provided with supplemental outboard bearings 29 and 30 at the right of the feed rollers, as shown in Fig. 2. A bearing supporting member31 projects upward from the bed and the bearings 29 and 30 are bolted to the rear face of this member. vided in the upper bearing. 30 to permit the vertical adjustment thereof in accordance w7ith7the vertical adjustment of the bearings 1 ,1 l V I i r The lower shaft 16 is. provided with thrust members at opposite sides thereof. At the outer end of the shaft 16' and as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, there is provided a transverse bar 32 carried by studs 33 and 3a projecting laterally from the bearing member 12. The bar 32 engages the end of the shaft, and it is adjustable by'means of nuts on the said studs. The inner end'of the shaft 16 is engaged by a; plug 35 which is adjustable by means ofa stud 36 extending through an up- Slotted. bolt holes are proright member 37 projecting upward from the bed 1. The inner end of the shaft 19 is engaged by a plug 38 similar to the plug 35, and similarly adjustable by means of a stud 39 also extending through the upright member 37 By vertically adjusting the shaft 19 with its feed roll, and by laterally adjusting the feed rolls by means of the thrust bearings which have been described, the machine can be adapted within certain narrow limits for operating upon bars of different sizes.

The shafts 16 and 19 are adapted to be rotated intermittently and when there are four pairs of cutting off and pointing teeth, as

' shown, the feed rolls are given a quarter revolution at each actuation thereof. For

thus intermittently rotating the rolls a ratchet mechanism is provided on one of them, and as illustrated this ratchet mechanism is on the lower shaft 16. I

The ratchet mechanism is shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, 13 and .14. Loosely mounted on the shaft 16 is a pawl carrier 40 adapted to be oscillated by means of a. link 41, pivotally connected thereto at its forward end, its rear end being connected with a crank pin 42 carried by the main shaft 6. Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 16 adjacent'the pawl carrier 40 are two ratchet wheels 43 and 44.

These wheels are similar but are mounted with their teeth facing in opposite directions. The number of teeth in each ratchet wheel is the same as the number of pairs of cutting 05 and pointing teeth 28, 28. In the present case, there are four pairs of teeth 28, 28. In the present case, there are four pairs of teeth 28, 28, and accordingly each ratchet wheel has four teeth.

Mounted onthe pawl carrier are two pawls 45 and 46 adapted respectively to engage the ratchet wheels 43 and 44. These pawls are carried by a common pivot shaft 47, and means is provided which normally'serves to hold the pawl 45 in engagement with the ratchet wheel 43 and the pawl 46 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 44. It will be noted that when the ratchet wheel 43 is engaged by the pawl 45 the action is to rotate the two feed rollers in the direction to feed the bar of stock inward, and to cut off and point a blank fora spike.

Preferably the means for holding the pawl 45 in operative position comprises a pin 48 on the said pawl projecting through an eye at the lower end of a pawl link 49. The upper end of the link 49 is guided by a U-shaped member 50, secured to the bearing member 12 and a compression coil spring51 is interposed between the member and the eye at the lower end of the link. In order' that the pawl 45 may be'disengaged fromits ratchet wheel, and

' the pawl 46 engaged with its ratchet wheel a rope 52 is provided which is connected with the upper end of the link 49, and which eX- tends to a location within convenient range of the operator. It will be seen that the operator by pulling on the rope 52 can render the pawl 45 inoperative, and at thesame time render the pawl 46 operative to rotate the shafts in the opposite direction. This reversed rotation of the shafts and of the feed rolls is desirable when the end of a bar of stock is reached. When the operator observes" that the remaining end of the bar is not of suffi cient length to form another spike, he can reverse the feed rolls to throw out this short end, and thus prevent it from entering the machine where it might cause. trouble and where it would be mixed with the finished spikes.

As the desired length y of the stock bar a: is cut off and pointed, the opposite end of such severed section is engaged by a pair of transfer rollers 53 and 54 which occupy a of the feed rollers 24 and 25, the function thereof, as above stated, being toengage the spike blank as soon as it is cut olf and pointed, and to transfer it rearward into position to be engaged by the holding jaws. These feed rollers and the mechanism for operating them are most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6.

position immediately adjacent and atthe rear Carried by the bed 1 is a frame member 55 7 having a pair of fixed bearings 56, 56 therein for a horizontal shaft 58 and a pair of vertically adjustable bearings 59, 59 therein for a horizontal shaft 61. The two bearings 59. 59 are each vertically adjustable by means of a screw 62. The before-mentioned transfer rollers 53 and 54 are'mounted on the shafts '58 and 61 respectively, and these two shafts are operatively connected by means of intermeshing gears 64 and 65 mounted respectively thereon. The range of adjustment of 5 the upper shaft 61 is not great enough to inwith the shaft 58 by means of a coupling 69.

The shaft 66 is driven by means of a shaft 70, the two shafts being connected by beveled gears 71 and 7 2. The shaft .70 is inclined and is mounted in bearings 7 3, 74 and 7 5 at the right hand end of the machine. The bearing 73 is carried by a'bracket76 which also car ries the bearings 68. The two bearings 74 and 7 5 are shown-as supported on a housing 77 which in turn is carried by a bracket 78 mounted independently of the main bed 1 of the machine. A bevel gear 79 is secured to I i the main shaft 6 within the housing 77, and this meshes with a bevel gear 80 mounted on the shaft 7 O, and also located within thehous- 

